Twilight Siege

34

I bit back my snippy reply and walked to the elevator, taking it down to the gym and letting myself in now that I was given security access but I found the room empty. That figured, Lochlan was probably upstairs and asshole Michael sent me down here just to screw with me. I took the elevator back to club level and stormed back through the now empty room —I really hoped Ashley wasn’t making a horrible mistake with Michael, but I wasn’t her mother and I wasn’t going to chase after her. I peeked into the main office. Empty. Walking farther down the hall in search of Lochlan, I zeroed in on voices coming from the conference room. As I neared the door, I realized that what I had heard was a woman moaning. How awkward. Was somebody getting freaky in the conference room? Oh hell, was Ashley in there with Michael? Despite knowing I should do the polite thing and walk away, my curiosity got the better of me and I peeked around the doorframe just enough to see who was inside. My gut clenched viciously and a searing heat spread across my cheeks as I witnessed Lochlan engaged in a passionate kiss with a redheaded woman. His back was angled toward me and he had her perched on the edge of the table, legs spread with her skirt up around her hips. Pain hollowed out my chest and a chill crawled along my skin. Never did I think seeing that would hurt so badly. He had no commitment to me and my logical mind knew that, but it didn’t seem to matter to my heart. When had I formed such a solid attachment to the Fae man? I spun around to leave but before I took a single step I pulled myself up short. What was I doing? Letting my feelings get in the way of business, that’s what I was doing. If I had kept my head in the game like I was supposed to have done, this never would have been an issue so that’s exactly how I needed to act. Dealing with Ronan and stopping the Fae invasion were infinitely more important than my injured feelings. I couldn’t lose track of my priorities, there was too much at stake. Turning back around, I stepped back into the doorway with my head held high. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’m ready to talk to Ronan whenever you’re…available.” There was an edge to my voice that undermined the cold indifference I had tried to project. The moment I started to speak Lochlan’s back went ramrod straight and both he and the woman froze. The woman peeked over his shoulder with a giggle but he never turned my direction. I didn’t wait for a response. As soon as the words were out of my mouth I headed back to the main club where I took a seat at one of the round bar tables. My jaw clenched so tight I was afraid I would crack a tooth as I tried to think of anything other than what I had seen. I wasn’t there but a couple of minutes before Lochlan strolled out sans his companion. His hair was slightly more ruffled than normal but he looked otherwise unaffected. I had no desire to rehash what had happened so I quickly stood, making sure I wore a blank face. “Let’s get this over with.” He gave a nod and made a quick call to Michael asking him to meet us in Ronan’s cell with the sword. The one minute ride in the elevator down to the basement had to have been the longest minute of my existence. We stood with our backs to the same wall, eyes forward, neither of us acknowledging the other. If I had thought first dates could be awkward, they had nothing on that elevator ride. We passed the interrogation rooms and passed through a doorway that led to a hall I had not previously seen. Dark and dank, this section of the basement had clearly not been updated with the rest of the building. In fact, the crumbling walls and dirt floor made me wonder if this passage had been constructed long before the building came to be. When Lochlan had said to meet in Ronan’s cell, he was not joking. Straight out of a movie, there was an iron door with a small barred window that looked into a dungeon-like prison cell. Lochlan lifted a chain from around his neck that held a rusted key and opened the metal door. The musty air was rank with body odor and excrement, making me almost gag as I walked inside. Ronan was chained to the back wall, arms and legs spread wide. His ripped clothing hung from him in tatters and every inch of skin seemed to be marred with bruising or mottled flesh. His head was lolled to the side, resting against his shoulder and he hadn’t budged since the door opened. I knew Ronan deserved every bit of the pain he had received, and yet my heart hurt to see any living being in such a condition. My need for vengeance against him shriveled up like cut flower left out of water for too long. Footsteps sounded behind us and Michael joined us in the cell, the Sword of Light gleaming in his hands. His eyes met mine when I turned back to see who had entered, and I knew all my doubt and unease were written across my face. Michael’s eyes cut over to Lochlan. “You sure she should be here?” I tried to fortify myself, lips pressed firmly together and my shoulders back so when Lochlan looked over at me he would not renege on my invitation to participate. Just because what I was witnessing horrified me didn’t mean I wanted to leave. I wanted to hear what Ronan said, and I wanted to see the sword in action. “As long as she says she wants to be here, we’re going to let her stay.” Lochlan ordered, holding out his hand for the sword. Once the grip was firmly in his hand, the blade emitted a brilliant light that had my eyes clenching shut in pain. “Jesus that’s bright,” I hissed in response as the light faded and my eyes were left to adjust back to the dim lighting. “It’s finally time.” Came Ronan’s voice, gravelly and horse. The light had stirred him to consciousness and he slowly lifted his head to take in his jailers. Lochlan stepped within reach and placed the end of the sword to the side of Ronan’s neck. Ronan’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously and his chest rose and fell in a hurried pace as he leaned his head away from the blade with a grimace. “How long have you been in league with Morgan?” Lochlan began in a low voice. Ronan’s lips pursed and twisted as he struggled against the magic compelling him to answer truthfully. “Always. Since the day she took me in as a boy.” He spat, eyes narrowed at Lochlan with raw hatred. “Have you fed her information all this time?” “Yes.” Ronan drew out the word, his lips lifting in a smirk. “What does Morgan have planned?” “I’m so sorry, Lochlan, but I can’t tell you that. I don’t know what her plan is.” Now his lips pulled back to a full-on grin, dimples showing on his grimy cheeks. “How is she opening the portals?” “I don’t know.” “Were you kept in the dark to protect this information?” “Yes, I’ve only ever been told what I needed to know.”